Broadlands Bible Church
January 25, 2023
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Thesis: The first of "the covenants of The Promise", under the overarching Abrahamic Covenant, is The Palestinian Covenant found in
Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20.
Introduction: Last week we noted that this "different covenant" was positioned by the progress of revelation "under" the Abrahamic Covenant's command/promise regarding a "land" which was to be abandoned and a "land" to which Abraham was to go and receive from God as the replacement for the original "land". We also considered the twin realities of progressive revelation in respect to progressive illumination as they relate to the fact that there is a kind of "blurring" of the boundaries between the three "sub-covenants" regarding the "land", the "seed", and the "great name". None of the "issues" of the particular covenants are completely restricted to their particular covenant. Physical provision has always been in play even when there was no "Land Covenant". Provision for the soul in a harmonious relationship with God has also always in play even before the Davidic Covenant. And provision for the spirit in respect to the spirit's need to be capable of participating in a "significant" work has also been in play even before the "Great Name Covenant". The issue of the three covenants is God's "focus of provision" as a dominating reality: with "land" in focus, the body is taken care of; with the "seed" in focus, the soul is taken care of; and with the "great name" in focus, the spirit is taken care of.
This evening we are also going to take one more look into the issues regarding the promise of a "land flowing with milk and honey" and it's variations between "blessings" and "curses".
- I. The First Major Issue Of The Deceit And God's Exposure Of It.
- II. The First Aspect Of God's "Reclamation" Plan Was The Promise Of A Land That Would Supply Man's Physical Need For Food.
- A. God's first requirement upon Abraham was that he "leave" his land and believe that He would provide him with a sufficiently nourishing land that would provide his body with what it needed.
- B. This issue of "believing" in God's supply of a good land was eventually addressed with a specific "covenant" that would provide a "good land" as an enduring provision for man as a physical creature.
- C. The biblical record of this "supporting covenant".
- 1. As a "supporting covenant" it was like unto Hebrews 6:13-18.
- 2. The main text: Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20.
- a. It is distinguished from the Covenant of the Law: 29:1.
- b. It is rooted in three realities.
- 1) The experiences of the Israelites through forty years of wandering: 29:2-3.
- 2) The difficult reality is that, thus far, "the Lord has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear": 29:4.
- 3) It is important to note that the "New Covenant" of Jeremiah 31:31-33 notably includes the provision of that which is lacking in Deuteronomy 29:4.
- c. It is established by the physical facts: 29:5-8 and resulted in an exhortation to live under the terms of this covenant (29:9).
- d. It is made between Yahweh your Elohim, and all of Israel (both those present and those to come): 29:10-15.
- e. It contains an horrific curse for any whose heart turns to idolatry: 29:16-21. [Note Deuteronomy 11:26-29 and 27:13-26 and 28:15-46].
- f. It predicts a gross failure of the nation: 29:22-29.
- g. It predicts a future return to the land: 30:1-5.
- h. It predicts a divine provision for that future return to endure: 30:6-10.
- i. It summons those present to embrace this covenant: 30:11-20.
